Giving or taking: the role of dispositional power Motivation and positive affect in profit maximization?

Arbeitspapier

Socio-economic decisions are commonly explained by rational cost vs. benefit considerations, whereas person variables have not usually been considered. The present study aims at investigating the degree to which dispositional power motivation and affective states predict socio-economic decisions. The power motive was assessed both indirectly and directly using a TAT-like picture test and a power motive self-report, respectively. After nine months, 62 students completed an affect rating and performed on a money allocation task (Social Values Questionnaire). We hypothesized and confirmed that dispositional power should be associated with a tendency to maximize one's profit but to care less about another party's profit. Additionally, positive affect showed effects in the same direction. The results are discussed with respect to a motivational approach explaining socio-economic behaviour.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: Preprints of the Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods ; No. 2008,15

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Design of Experiments: Laboratory, Individual ; Microeconomic Behavior: Underlying Principles ; Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification
• Subject: economic decision-making ; rational choice theory ; personality ; implicit power motive ; positive affect ; operant motive test ; Entscheidung ; Rationales Verhalten ; Persönlichkeitspsychologie ; Emotion ; Soziale Werte ; Ökonomisches Prinzip ; Test

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Quirin, Markus ; Beckenkamp, Martin ; Kuhl, Julius
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods
• (where): Bonn
• (when): 2008

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/26952
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:44 AM CET